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BlackBerry Rio Z20 will end up Leaping

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The BlackBerry Rio Z20 is supposedly the next big thing from John Chen’s newly revived company, although the Rio might be dropped from its name this time. We didn’t really like the Rio moniker for BlackBerry devices, so a different name is definitely sitting better in my point of view, but the fans will ultimately decide. According to Crackberry, an exclusive BlackBerry news site, the Rio Z20 will become the Leap once it is launched, and I dare say that name sounds much more inspired and reflects much better on the company itself and what they propose to accomplish this year.

John Chen promised 4 new innovative handsets last year, besides the Blackberry Passport, but we’ve only seen one of them being unveiled so far, the ever-fashionable Classic. Chen and co. are mum about the rest of the device that should be unveiled in the first half of 2015, but at least we more or less have confirmation that the so-called Leap is in the works and set to launch soon enough. Previous rumors about the new all-touch BlackBerry pegged for a February release, but it seems that might have been delayed.

BlackBerry is going to have its own booth, and events at the MWC 2015 next week, so we might see the Leap pop up there, but we can’t confirm that just yet. John Chen promised that he would reveal all the plans the company has for 2015, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see a new smartphone launched, too. Since rumors and leaks are scarce when it comes to the Canadian company, we’re not sure if the BlackBerry Leap will be launched there or if another phone would be introduced. In any case, we’re curious about the all-touch Leap, as BlackBerry pretty much botched previous attempts at this type of smartphone.

The BlackBerry Passport and Classic are immensely successful and have surely made the company proud, not to mention setting a standard for innovative, unconventional smartphone design. Even though an all-touch BlackBerry doesn’t seem all that unconventional, we’re wondering how Chen will turn it into something innovative. The photos obtained by CrackBerry are pretty revealing, showing off sturdy bezels and a metal frame around the alleged Leap. The specs for the device aren’t really interesting, as the Leap will most likely end up being a mid-range smartphone, but take it with a grain of salt for now.

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It’s just a concept, for now.

One interesting bit is that the BlackBerry Leap is close to 10 mm thick. We could speculate a lot on that, although most likely, the alleged 2800 mAh battery is the culprit. But what if it isn’t? We’ve seen thinner phones (Galaxy Note 4) with bigger batteries and flagship specs, so what then? There’s not much space to make use of within a smartphone chassis, but seeing as Chen promised innovation, the Leap might just turn out to be the device with a hidden keyboard. Wouldn’t that be just amazing? Having a 10 mm phone with a hidden keyboard built-in? I would definitely use this for that.

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Alas, we’re not sure if the hidden keyboard feature is the case with the BlackBerry Leap. It’s rather unlikely, to be fair, because you would have to get your hands on an incredibly thin keyboard and the mechanism to pop it in and out from behind or below the phone, which will most likely occupy more than 2 or maybe 3 mm of space. Anyhow, it’s a nice thought. The rest of the specs we’ve heard about are pretty rudimentary, including the 5 inch 1280*720 resolution display. Rumors also state that the handset will get a dual core processor, which sounds rather odd to me, because even mid-rangers nowadays get quad core processors. Besides that, it’s supposedly going to be backed by 2 GB RAM, which points towards a more powerful processor yet again. 16 GB ROM and a microSD card will also be featured in the BlackBerry Leap, alongside an 8 MP rear camera and a 2 MP front camera. Thus far, rudimentary. We’re looking forward to hearing more from John Chen at the MWC 2015 next week, and we’re honestly hoping that the BlackBerry Leap will surprise us in the end. Featured image/ John Chen portrait courtesy of Mark Blinch.

 

As part of the editorial team here at Geekreply, John spends a lot of his time making sure each article is up to snuff. That said, he also occasionally pens articles on the latest in Geek culture. From Gaming to Science, expect the latest news fast from John and team.

Consoles

If Not Already Clear, Elder Scrolls 6 Will Skip PlayStation

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Despite Microsoft’s acquisition of Bethesda, The Elder Scrolls 6 was not confirmed as an Xbox exclusive a few months ago. This happened because Xbox executive Phil Spencer indicated that target platforms hadn’t been selected yet, but it always felt like he was talking about the game being years away rather than the RPG being on PlayStation.

If you’re still holding out, Microsoft plans to release The Elder Scrolls 6 just on Xbox and PC. Documents from the company’s FTC lawsuit were recently released. In the document, Bethesda’s announced titles (both as a publisher and developer) are listed, and The Elder Scrolls 6 is listed for Xbox, PC, and nothing else.

We expected this, but The Elder Scrolls 6 was announced before Microsoft acquired its developer. The Elder Scrolls is a beloved franchise that’s been on various platforms for generations, so this isn’t Starfield.

However, the game isn’t due until 2026 at the earliest, according to the paper, and who knows what the gaming landscape will be like then.

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Xbox Nearly Flashed Warner Bros Cash, Sees Nintendo as Holy Grail

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Xbox CEO Phil Spencer’s mid-2020 dystopian email suggests the business was interested in buying Warner Bros Interactive and Bethesda. Even more alarming, the CEO calls buying Nintendo a “career moment” and “good for both companies” — and there are even rumors that Microsoft was interested in Valve.

While Spencer warns that acquiring Nintendo would be “hostile action” but “playing the long game”, the unprecedented corporate convergence is shockingly casual. He added: “Nintendo is taking a long time to realize their future is off their hardware. A long time… He even ended the chat with a smiling emoji to make it look more evil.

Spencer claims that Warner Bros Interactive was “gettable” when Microsoft was rumored to acquire it. He adds that “we wouldn’t own any of the IP which hurts long-term flexibility”. Because most Warner Bros Interactive developers work on franchises like Batman, Harry Potter, and others, the studios are worth little without the brands.

The email is over three years old, but it reveals Microsoft’s blasé approach to acquisitions and its goals. While its eventual acquisition of Activision Blizzard may have changed its plans, this leaked exchange suggests that Microsoft will not stop until it has absorbed as much of the industry as possible, even targeting Nintendo.

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Stig Asmussen Leaving Respawn for Galaxies Unknown

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Jedi: Fallen Order and Jedi: Survivor director Stig Asmussen is leaving Respawn Entertainment for unknown reasons. Asmussen had planned a trilogy for Cal Kestis, but it appears another author will need to write it.

Bloomberg reports that an EA spokesperson said: “Stig Asmussen has left Respawn to pursue other adventures, and we wish him the best. Veteran Respawn leaders will lead Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.”

This move is surprising, but Asmussen leaves on a high note. Jedi: Survivor is a great game despite its performance issues, which is rare for a Star Wars game. We’ll see where Asmussen goes, but we’re excited.

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